Tag Archive for infections

Rates of STIs Extremely High in Senior Living Centers

For those born between 1930 and 1960, any topics sexually related or covering intimacy are all but shunned. Folks from that time period were taught that they were to never speak about such topics, events, or actions, and that for the most part, they were only supposed to do “that” to procreate, or with their spouse. Because of this type of information, and thought process of the 50’s, many people are not aware of the dangers of sexually transmitted infections, diseases, or the things that one can pass to another even by sexual touch. Safe sex was not something that was taught, or discussed, thusly making all forms of protection available today essentially foreign to them.

Why is this a problem in senior living communities? Due to the lack of education and the greater lack of discussion, elderly people are coming together in these facilities to find some pleasure. I bet your mouth just fell open! It’s true. While they are not always engaged in the actual act of sexual intercourse, they are fingering, touching, groping, and providing oral stimulation to their community mates. This is a perfectly normal human need: to feel pleasure and intimacy. The statistics in our area (Fort Wayne, IN) are pretty shocking, as many would not think that these things are happening.

The good news? Great news, actually. Boudoir Noir’s School of Loving Arts is preparing to debut a new series of classes to bring a certain sexual education into these senior living communities that obviously need it more than ever. These classes will discuss the taboo subjects of sex, intimacy, and the safety measures that need to be taken, even for these minor situations the seniors may be finding themselves in.

Why would we do these classes? In our classroom inside of our store, we have seen a rush of seniors coming to attend. In some cases, the nursing home transport van did the drop off, and pick up. This spoke volumes to us, and showed the need for such a program.

If you’re a senior living in a community that is dealing with these issues, maybe you should reach out for more information for your facility. Sometimes, posting informational posters or putting information in the newsletter is all it takes. In other cases, we find that directly addressing these diseases and issues can greatly reduce the percentage of transmission within the walls of the community.